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Advance Commercial Information - Air Mode
Features
Data Requirements
Air Cargo Report – SO802
The air carrier, or a representative, prepares and transmits an Air Cargo Report (SO802) to the CBSA through Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). The Air Cargo Report must be transmitted electronically to the CBSA at least four hours prior to arrival in Canada. If the flight is less than four hours in duration, the Air Cargo Report must be transmitted to the CBSA before the aircraft's time of departure from the foreign airport.
For additional information on cargo pre-arrival procedures, refer to D3-2-2 Air Cargo – Import and In-Transit Movements.
The following provides information on ACI Air Cargo Reports (SO802) to assist clients in meeting CBSA requirements:
- Cargo Control Number
- Detailed Commodity Descriptions
- Piece Count Requirements
- Supplementary Data Required Indicator
- Non-resident Importer Consignee
Cargo Control Number (CCN)
The Cargo Control Number (CCN) is the identifying reference number of the Air Cargo Report (SO802). The CCN begins with the carrier's four character, CBSA-approved carrier code followed by a unique reference number, usually the air waybill number, assigned by the Carrier/Representative.
The format for an air mode carrier code is three alpha/numeric followed by a dash (e.g. 123-).
Note: the Cargo Control Number may be re-used after a period of one year.
Detailed Commodity Descriptions
A detailed commodity description is a clear and concise description of an item. The description should be in plain language and detailed enough to allow the CBSA to identify the size, shape and characteristics of the commodity. Only the commodity description should be included in this field of the EDI transmission. Information not relevant to the commodity description, e.g. type of packaging, carrier disclaimers, etc., should not be transmitted in the commodity description field.
The following descriptions are not acceptable and may result in "Hold for Examination" or "Hold for More Information" notices. Unacceptable descriptions include: freight of all kinds (FAK); said to contain (STC); shippers load stow and count (SLAC); general merchandise and other similarly vague descriptions. A less detailed description will be accepted from the air carrier if the complete and accurate description is being provided in a Supplementary Cargo Report.
The following list is a guide to acceptable and unacceptable descriptions. This list is not exhaustive and will continue to expand as acceptable descriptions are further refined.
| Not Acceptable | Acceptable |
|---|---|
Apparel |
Clothing |
Appliances |
Kitchen Appliances |
Auto parts |
New Auto parts |
Caps |
Baseball Caps |
Chemicals, hazardous |
Actual Chemical Name (not brand name) |
Electronic Goods |
Computers |
Equipment |
Industrial Equipment, Oil Well Equipment, |
Flooring |
Wood Flooring, Plastic Flooring, Carpet, Ceramic Tile, Marble Flooring |
Foodstuffs |
Oranges |
Iron |
Iron Pipes, Steel Pipes |
Steel |
Iron Building Material, Steel Building Material |
Leather Articles |
Saddles |
Machinery |
Metal Working Machinery |
Machines |
Sewing Machines |
Pipes |
Plastic Pipes |
Plastic Goods |
Plastic Kitchenware, Plastic House ware, |
Polyurethane |
Polyurethane Threads |
|
Personal Effects |
Rubber Articles |
Rubber Hoses |
Rods |
Welding Rods |
Scrap |
Plastic Scrap |
STC (Said to Contain) |
|
Tiles |
Ceramic Tiles |
Tools |
Hand Tools |
Wires |
Electric Wires |
Piece Count Requirements
All clients must transmit the piece count as the quantity of the smallest external packing units. Listed below is a reference table of acceptable piece count measurements. The piece counts transmitting within the Supplementary Cargo Reports (if applicable) must equal the type and quantity of pieces referenced on the Air Cargo Report.
| Type of Equipment | Description | Air ACI Quantity |
|---|---|---|
1 Skid |
A pallet made of wood, plastic or other material. The items aboard the skid may be secured with shrink-wrap, corrugated cardboard, a strap or other similar material. |
The number of boxes, cartons, packages or other similar units loaded on the skid. |
1 Unit Load Device (ULD) containing boxes, cartons, packages or other similar units |
A properly identified carrier container or metal flat form pallet with or without sides. |
The number of boxes, cartons, packages, or other similar units loaded in the ULD. |
1 Fibreboard or Cardboard Box |
A completely sealed or otherwise enclosed box containing one or more units. |
1 piece |
1 Bale |
Garments or other materials in a sealed or otherwise enclosed sack. |
1 piece |
1 Postal Mail Bag |
A bag containing material to be delivered to the appropriate postal authority. |
1 piece |
1 Airline Company Mail Bag |
Company documents only in a sealed sack. |
1 piece |
1 Courier Bag |
A bag containing a variety of items including both document and non-document materials. |
1 piece |
1 Bundle |
A number of items that do not have any external packaging but are merely secured by a strap, bracket or similar device. For example, carpets secured by a rope. |
The total number of items secured in the bundle. |
1 Drum |
A metal, plastic or wooden barrel or similar device containing bulk merchandise such as liquid or grain. |
1 piece |
Supplementary Data Required Indicator
When the Air Cargo Report does not provide ultimate shipper/consignee information and/or a detailed cargo description (for risk assessment purposes), then the Supplementary Data Required Indicator on the Air Cargo Report must be transmitted. The supplementary data required indicator informs the CBSA that further information is forthcoming in the form of a Supplementary Cargo Report.
Non-Resident Importer as Consignee
The CBSA will accept a non-resident importer name and address in the consignee name and address fields. However, a Canadian name and address must also be provided in the delivery address field.
